Listen To The Wisdom Of Youth

Our Towns

Manchester

July 01, 1997

Manchester High School Principal James Spafford got an earful when he lunched with a group of honor students recently. They spoke frankly about what they thought of the school that had educated them for four years. Their observations are worth the attention of officials in other towns as well.

The young people were particularly critical of the racial and socioeconomic segregation that still plagues suburban schools. They said existing programs do not do enough to increase interaction among students of varied backgrounds. They want more and they think activities that encourage mixing should start at a younger age. That's encouraging.

Though teenagers tend to gravitate toward others with similar backgrounds, these students realize they would profit from spending more time with teens from different racial, economic and ethnic groups. None of those at the lunch were members of minority groups.

The students criticized the foreign language program, too, saying more languages should be offered and more years of instruction. They're right to say that other countries are more multilingual and our students should catch up.

Talking to all departing seniors routinely would be useful. Administrators could ask students to fill out exit surveys or come in for interviews after graduation, when they might speak more candidly.

Some schools invite graduates to return the following year to talk about high school from the perspective of college freshmen and the newly employed. But seeking their opinions as they leave school ensures their remarks will not be colored by nostalgia or fading memories.

Students, after all, are the school's consumers. They know what worked -- and what didn't.